IdN v19n1: Invitation Design — RSVP

Whether it happens to be what they specialize in, or something that they are only called upon to undertake from time to time, almost all designers enjoy putting together the collateral for a meaningful private event. The freedom from the often suffocating demands of a commercial brief are part of the attraction, as is the satisfaction that comes from giving immediate pleasure to people and being temporarily welcomed into their world. In this issue, we have sought the opinions of 21 creative units on how to make that very personal party go with a bang!

Specifications:

Invitation Design

You are cordially invited... to enjoy yourself

Whether or not you believe in Andy Warhol's well-known theory that each of us will enjoy 15 minutes of fame during our lifetime, you will certainly experience occasions when you are the centre of attention, albeit only from friends and family. Your wedding, birthdays, celebration parties… these are the kind of events at which the spotlight is liable to be turned on you. But if you've pushed the boat out in a bid to make it really memorable, and hired a designer to take care of the invitations and printed collateral, then some of the responsibility to help you fulfill your dreams rests with them.

An enormous burden, you might think, to be accountable for the success, at least in part, of such an intimate and personal phenomenon. But for most designers, that is precisely the appeal of this kind of work — the opportunity it affords to really get to know someone in a way that one rarely can with a straightforward business client.

Motion Gallery: High-End TVC

TLC is key to a good TVC

The amount of time, effort and money poured into a 30-60-second TV commercial these days can equivalate to that of a medium-budget feature film. Yet as the means of reaching a target market change with the proliferation of new communications technology, the reliance on big-money, big-star advertising could soon become a thing of the past — which is good news for innovative producers with compelling ideas, however niche. We have come up with a block-busting 50-plus examples of what their creators think is good TVC in the hope that you will be as inspired as they were.

Creative City: Hong Kong

Learning to live with some harsh realities

According to recently announced government policy, Hong Kong wants to become the "Capital of Creativity" in Asia, but local practitioners are skeptical about the chances of this happening. They cite a lack of basic educational facilities and the age-old complaint that the market is more interested in cutting cost corners than commissioning the highest-quality work as factors militating against the territory ever being able to challenge the design might of Japan or Korea. On the plus side, opportunities offered by the fast-developing scene in mainland China have widened their scope — and the constraints under which they have to struggle continue to concentrate creative minds.